Method and computer for controlling image processor, and machine readable storage medium for use in computer

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling an image processor to perform display of an image on a first display device in synchronization with short frames and to perform display of an image on a second display device in synchronization with long frames each of which has a time length longer than a time length of each short frame. According to the method, a synchronization signal acquisition process acquires a first synchronization signal synchronized with switching of the short frames. An estimation process estimates, each time the first synchronization signal is acquired, a generation position of a second synchronization signal synchronized with switching of the long frames within a 2-frame period corresponding to two short frames after the first synchronization signal is acquired. The image processor is provided with a drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device or the second display device controllably in accordance with results of the estimating by the estimation process.

1. A method for controlling an image processor to perform display of an image on a first display device in synchronization with first frames and to perform display of an image on a second display device in synchronization with second frames each of which has a time length longer than a time length of each first frame, the method comprising:
 a synchronization signal acquisition process of acquiring a first synchronization signal synchronized with switching of the first frames; and 
 an estimation process of estimating, each time the first synchronization signal is acquired, a generation position of a second synchronization signal synchronized with switching of the second frames within a 2-frame period corresponding to two first frames after the first synchronization signal is acquired, wherein 
 the image processor is provided with a drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device or the second display device controllably in accordance with results of the estimating by the estimation process. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the image processor is provided with the drawing command in accordance with the estimated generation position of the second synchronization signal within the 2-frame period. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein a reference point is set in each of earlier one and later one of the two first frames in the 2-frame period so as to divide each of the earlier first frame and the later first frame into a front sub period and a rear sub period, the method further comprising a command loading process including:
 performing first determination as to whether or not the estimated generation position of the second synchronization signal falls in the front sub period of the later first frame, and sequentially providing a preceding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device and a succeeding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the second display device to the image processor when the first determination is affirmative; 
 performing second determination as to whether or not the estimated generation position of the second synchronization signal falls in the rear sub period of the earlier first frame when the first determination is not affirmative, and sequentially providing a preceding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the second display device and a succeeding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device to the image processor when the second determination is affirmative; and 
 providing a sole drawing command instructing generation of the image to be displayed on the first display device to the image processor when the first determination is not affirmative and the second determination is not affirmative. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the image processor further comprising:
 a first frame buffer and a second frame buffer, each storing an image to be displayed on the first display device, wherein one of the first and second frame buffers is in a display state in which data of the image is provided from the frame buffer to the first display device while the other is in a drawing state in which data of the image is written to the frame buffer and the first and second frame buffers perform bank flip to switch one of the first and second frame buffers from a drawing state to a display state and to switch the other from a display state to a drawing state in synchronization with each first frame; and 
 a third frame buffer and a fourth frame buffer, each storing an image to be displayed on the second display device, wherein one of the third and fourth frame buffers is in a display state in which data of the image is provided from the frame buffer to the second display device while the other is in a drawing state in which data of the image is written to the frame buffer and the third and fourth frame buffers perform bank flip to switch one of the third and fourth frame buffers from a drawing state to a display state and to switch the other from a display state to a drawing state in synchronization with each second frame, and wherein 
 the command loading process includes: 
 providing, when the first determination is affirmative, the image processor with a command sequence including a bank flip wait command instructing the image processor to await execution of a subsequent command until bank flip between the third and fourth frame buffers is generated, the bank flip wait command being inserted between the preceding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device and the succeeding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the second display device; and 
 providing, when the first determination is not affirmative and the second determination is affirmative, the image processor with a command sequence including a bank flip wait command instructing the image processor to await execution of a subsequent command until bank flip between the first and second frame buffers is generated, the bank flip wait command being inserted between the preceding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the second display device and the succeeding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the reference point is set such that a ratio of the front sub period to the rear sub period corresponds to a ratio of a time required for generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device to a time required for generation of an image to be displayed on the second display device. 
     
     
       6. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium for use in a computer, the medium containing a program executable by the computer to perform a method for controlling an image processor to perform display of an image on a first display device in synchronization with first frames and to perform display of an image on a second display device in synchronization with second frames each of which has a time length longer than a time length of each first frame, wherein the method comprises:
 a synchronization signal acquisition process of acquiring a first synchronization signal synchronized with switching of the first frames; and 
 an estimation process of estimating, each time the first synchronization signal is acquired, a generation position of a second synchronization signal synchronized with switching of the second frames within a 2-frame period corresponding to two first frames after the first synchronization signal is acquired, wherein 
 the method provides the image processor with a drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device or the second display device controllably in accordance with results of the estimating by the estimation process. 
 
     
     
       7. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium according to  claim 6 , wherein the method provides the image processor with the drawing command in accordance with the estimated generation position of the second synchronization signal within the 2-frame period. 
     
     
       8. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium according to  claim 7 , wherein a reference point is set in each of earlier one and later one of the two first frames in the 2-frame period so as to divide each of the earlier first frame and the later first frame into a front sub period and a rear sub period, the method further comprising a command loading process including:
 performing first determination as to whether or not the estimated generation position of the second synchronization signal falls in the front sub period of the later first frame, and sequentially providing a preceding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device and a succeeding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the second display device to the image processor when the first determination is affirmative; 
 performing second determination as to whether or not the estimated generation position of the second synchronization signal falls in the rear sub period of the earlier first frame when the first determination is not affirmative, and sequentially providing a preceding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the second display device and a succeeding drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device to the image processor when the second determination is affirmative; and 
 providing a sole drawing command instructing generation of the image to be displayed on the first display device to the image processor when the first determination is not affirmative and the second determination is not affirmative. 
 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the reference point is set such that a ratio of the front sub period to the rear sub period corresponds to a ratio of a time required for generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device to a time required for generation of an image to be displayed on the second display device. 
     
     
       10. A computer connected to an image processor that performs display of an image on a first display device in synchronization with first frames and performs display of an image on a second display device in synchronization with second frames each of which has a time length longer than a time length of each first frame, the computer controlling the image processor to ensure parallel displaying of the images on the first display device and the second display device, the computer comprising:
 a synchronization signal acquisition module of acquiring a first synchronization signal synchronized with switching of the first frames: and 
 an estimation module of estimating, each time the first synchronization signal is acquired, a generation position of a second synchronization signal synchronized with switching of the second frames within a 2-frame period corresponding to two first frames after the first synchronization signal is acquired, wherein 
 the computer provides the image processor with a drawing command instructing generation of an image to be displayed on the first display device or the second display device controllably in accordance with results of the estimating by the estimation module.